'Where is Peng Shuai?'

Japanese star Naomi Osaka has raised concerns over the whereabouts of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who went missing after she alleged that a powerful Chinese politician sexually assaulted her.&nbsp;

Shuai had claimed in a social media post on November 2 that China's former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had "forced" her into sex during a long-term on-off relationship. Ever since she made the claims, she has not been seen or heard from publicly, leading to growing suspicion and global outrage.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/im-fighting-for-it-roger-federer-out-of-australian-open-participation-in-wimbledon-remains-doubtful-430030">'I'm fighting for it': Roger Federer out of Australian Open, participation in Wimbledon remains doubtful</a>

As the world continues to wait and watch to get some&nbsp;information, the four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka took to her official Twitter handle and asked "Where Is Peng Shuai"? Osaka's&nbsp;questions have been added to growing concerns within the tennis fraternity about Peng's fate, with Novak Djokovic and several other players also spoken in the same context in recent days saying they were deeply worried.

Osaka wrote, "I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused. Censorship is never ok at any cost, I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok. I'm in shock of the current situation and I'm sending love and light her way."

In a recent development, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) called for Peng's claims to be "investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship".&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chinese-star-peng-shuais-safety-comes-ahead-of-business-assures-former-wta-ceo-stacey-allaster-429731">Chinese star Peng Shuai's safety comes ahead of business, assures former WTA CEO Stacey Allaster</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhereIsPengShuai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhereIsPengShuai</a> <a href="https://t.co/51qcyDtzLq">pic.twitter.com/51qcyDtzLq</a>
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) <a href="https://twitter.com/naomiosaka/status/1460723353174433793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO, in a statement said, "Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored. Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness."

"We expect this issue to be handled properly, meaning the allegations must be investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship. Our absolute and unwavering priority is the health and safety of our players. We are speaking out so justice can be done," Simon added.&nbsp;

'Where is Peng Shuai?' Japanese star Naomi Osaka has raised concerns over the whereabouts of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who went missing after she alleged that a powerful Chinese politician sexually assaulted her.

'Where is Peng Shuai?' Japanese star Naomi Osaka has raised concerns over the whereabouts of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who went missing after she alleged that a powerful Chinese politician sexually assaulted her. Shuai had claimed in a social media post on November 2 that China's former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had "forced" her into sex during a long-term on-off relationship. Ever since she made the claims, she has not been seen or heard from publicly, leading to growing suspicion and global outrage. ALSO READ | 'I'm fighting for it': Roger Federer out of Australian Open, participation in Wimbledon remains doubtful As the world continues to wait and watch to get some information, the four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka took to her official Twitter handle and asked "Where Is Peng Shuai"? Osaka's questions have been added to growing concerns within the tennis fraternity about Peng's fate, with Novak Djokovic and several other players also spoken in the same context in recent days saying they were deeply worried. Osaka wrote, "I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused. Censorship is never ok at any cost, I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok. I'm in shock of the current situation and I'm sending love and light her way." In a recent development, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) called for Peng's claims to be "investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship". ALSO READ | Chinese star Peng Shuai's safety comes ahead of business, assures former WTA CEO Stacey Allaster . #WhereIsPengShuai pic.twitter.com/51qcyDtzLq — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) November 16, 2021 × Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO, in a statement said, "Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored. Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness." "We expect this issue to be handled properly, meaning the allegations must be investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship. Our absolute and unwavering priority is the health and safety of our players. We are speaking out so justice can be done," Simon added.

'I'm in shock': Naomi Osaka concerned over missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai's whereabouts

Stacey Allaster, the former-CEO of the Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) who negotiated millions of dollars of rights deals with China, told Reuters on Monday the tennis world has put Peng Shuai`s health and safety ahead of business.

As the WTA and ATP Tour seasons draw to a close this week with finals in Mexico and Italy, the tennis spotlight has focused on China with the women`s governing body on Sunday calling on the Chinese government to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Peng against a former vice premier.

Peng, a former-top ranked doubles player and one of China`s biggest sporting stars, alleged on her Weibo social media account on Nov. 2 that Zhang Gaoli, who used to be a member of the Politburo Standing Committee - China`s top decision-making body - coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wta-calls-for-investigation-into-peng-shuais-allegations-after-chinese-tennis-star-goes-missing-429496">WTA calls for investigation into Peng Shuai's allegations after Chinese tennis star goes 'missing'</a>

Peng, 35, said in the post, which was deleted about half an hour after it was published, that she could provide no evidence to back her allegations.

Concerns among the global tennis community have grown as Peng, the first Chinese player to top the world rankings when she was doubles number one in 2014, has not been seen since the post.

"Our sport is focusing on the health and safety of Peng Shuai, business is secondary," Allaster, the Chief Executive, Professional Tennis for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) told Reuters on Monday prior to speaking at the Primetime Sport management conference in Toronto.

"It is tough and it also is tough for this very courageous young woman that has broken her silence and come forward with these allegations."

Allaster would know better than most about the challenges of engaging with Chinese officials having served as the WTA`s chairman and CEO from 2009-15, a period that saw women`s tennis make a massive push into the China market.

China has been the focus of the WTA`s expansion over the last decade and hosted nine tournaments in 2019 with a total of $30.4 million prize money on offer.

The season-ending WTA Finals had a prize purse of $14 million in 2019 when it was played in Shenzhen for the first time.

The Finals were cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved this year to Guadalajara, Mexico but the WTA has said it will return to Shenzhen from 2022 until 2030.

"How this all that unfolds it is very difficult to say at this point but decisions will have to be made," warned Allaster. "Steve Simon`s (current WTA Chairman and CEO) statement made it clear that they need to fully support Peng Shuai.

"This is a very important moment for the WTA`s business and history."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/daniil-medvedev-says-double-triumph-late-last-year-at-paris-masters-and-atp-finals-laid-platform-for-rise-428851">Daniil Medvedev says double triumph late last year at Paris Masters and ATP Finals laid platform for rise</a>

What price, if any, tennis might ultimately pay for demanding an investigation of a former-top government official is uncertain.

In the past China has been quick to respond to criticism but China`s State Council Information office and the Chinese Tennis Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Two years ago after then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey made comments in support of the democracy movement in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong, state broadcaster CCTV stopped broadcasting NBA games.

Last month, Boston Celtics highlights were removed from China`s Tencent Holdings Ltd sports platform after center Enes Kanter criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping and China`s treatment of Tibet.

Stacey Allaster, the former-CEO of the Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) who negotiated millions of dollars of rights deals with China, told Reuters on Monday the tennis world has put Peng Shuai`s health and safety ahead of business.

Stacey Allaster, the former-CEO of the Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) who negotiated millions of dollars of rights deals with China, told Reuters on Monday the tennis world has put Peng Shuai`s health and safety ahead of business. As the WTA and ATP Tour seasons draw to a close this week with finals in Mexico and Italy, the tennis spotlight has focused on China with the women`s governing body on Sunday calling on the Chinese government to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Peng against a former vice premier. Peng, a former-top ranked doubles player and one of China`s biggest sporting stars, alleged on her Weibo social media account on Nov. 2 that Zhang Gaoli, who used to be a member of the Politburo Standing Committee - China`s top decision-making body - coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship. ALSO READ: WTA calls for investigation into Peng Shuai's allegations after Chinese tennis star goes 'missing' Peng, 35, said in the post, which was deleted about half an hour after it was published, that she could provide no evidence to back her allegations. Concerns among the global tennis community have grown as Peng, the first Chinese player to top the world rankings when she was doubles number one in 2014, has not been seen since the post. "Our sport is focusing on the health and safety of Peng Shuai, business is secondary," Allaster, the Chief Executive, Professional Tennis for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) told Reuters on Monday prior to speaking at the Primetime Sport management conference in Toronto. "It is tough and it also is tough for this very courageous young woman that has broken her silence and come forward with these allegations." Allaster would know better than most about the challenges of engaging with Chinese officials having served as the WTA`s chairman and CEO from 2009-15, a period that saw women`s tennis make a massive push into the China market. China has been the focus of the WTA`s expansion over the last decade and hosted nine tournaments in 2019 with a total of $30.4 million prize money on offer. The season-ending WTA Finals had a prize purse of $14 million in 2019 when it was played in Shenzhen for the first time. The Finals were cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved this year to Guadalajara, Mexico but the WTA has said it will return to Shenzhen from 2022 until 2030. "How this all that unfolds it is very difficult to say at this point but decisions will have to be made," warned Allaster. "Steve Simon`s (current WTA Chairman and CEO) statement made it clear that they need to fully support Peng Shuai. "This is a very important moment for the WTA`s business and history." ALSO READ | Daniil Medvedev says double triumph late last year at Paris Masters and ATP Finals laid platform for rise What price, if any, tennis might ultimately pay for demanding an investigation of a former-top government official is uncertain. In the past China has been quick to respond to criticism but China`s State Council Information office and the Chinese Tennis Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Two years ago after then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey made comments in support of the democracy movement in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong, state broadcaster CCTV stopped broadcasting NBA games. Last month, Boston Celtics highlights were removed from China`s Tencent Holdings Ltd sports platform after center Enes Kanter criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping and China`s treatment of Tibet.

Chinese star Peng Shuai's safety comes ahead of business, assures former WTA CEO Stacey Allaster

The WTA Tour on Sunday called on the Chinese government to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Peng Shuai against a former Chinese vice premier, while also demanding an end to censorship of the former top-ranked doubles player.

Peng, one of China`s biggest sporting stars, alleged on her Weibo social media account on Nov. 2 that Zhang Gaoli, who became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee - China`s top decision-making body - coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship.

Peng said in the post, which was deleted around half an hour after it was published, that she could provide no evidence to back her allegations.

The China Tennis Association did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

China's internet is heavily censored and the private lives of top leaders are an especially sensitive subject. Zhang, now 75, was a vice premier between 2013 and 2018 and served on the Politburo Standing Committee between 2012 and 2017.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/daniil-medvedev-says-double-triumph-late-last-year-at-paris-masters-and-atp-finals-laid-platform-for-rise-428851">Daniil Medvedev says double triumph late last year at Paris Masters and ATP Finals laid platform for rise</a>

Concerns among the global tennis community have grown as Peng has not been seen since the post.

The WTA said in a statement that it will seek a, "full, fair and transparent investigation into sexual assault allegations" against a former Chinese leader.

"The recent events in China concerning a WTA player, Peng Shuai, are of deep concern," said WTA Tour chairman and CEO Steve Simon in a statement.

"Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored.

"Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness."

Peng was the world number one doubles player in 2014, the first Chinese player to achieve a top ranking, after winning the doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014.

China, the focus of the Tour`s most aggressive expansion over the last decade, hosted nine tournaments in the 2019 season, including the elite WTA Finals, with a total $30.4 million prize money on offer.

The season-ending WTA Finals, contested by the world`s top eight singles players and eight doubles teams, had a prize purse of $14 million in 2019 when it was played in Shenzhen for the first time.

The Finals was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved this year to Guadalajara, Mexico.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-finals-daniil-medvedev-survives-hubert-hurkacz-scare-mateo-berrettini-injured-vs-alexander-zverev-429485">ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev survives Hubert Hurkacz scare, Mateo Berrettini injured vs Alexander Zverev</a>

The WTA said that the tournament will return to Shenzhen from 2022 and the Chinese city will host every edition until 2030.

"I think everybody fully understands what`s at stake here on many different fronts as we`re going through it," Simon told the New York Times on Sunday. "I think we`re certainly, from players to board to council, fully united that the only acceptable approach is that of doing what is right."

Simon told the Times no one at the WTA Tour has talked directly to Peng but has received assurances from the Chinese Tennis Association that she is safe.

"We`ve received confirmation from several sources, including the Chinese Tennis Association, that she is safe and not under any physical threat," Simon told the Times.

The WTA Tour on Sunday called on the Chinese government to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Peng Shuai against a former Chinese vice premier, while also demanding an end to censorship of the former top-ranked doubles player.

The WTA Tour on Sunday called on the Chinese government to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Peng Shuai against a former Chinese vice premier, while also demanding an end to censorship of the former top-ranked doubles player. Peng, one of China`s biggest sporting stars, alleged on her Weibo social media account on Nov. 2 that Zhang Gaoli, who became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee - China`s top decision-making body - coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship. Peng said in the post, which was deleted around half an hour after it was published, that she could provide no evidence to back her allegations. The China Tennis Association did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. China's internet is heavily censored and the private lives of top leaders are an especially sensitive subject. Zhang, now 75, was a vice premier between 2013 and 2018 and served on the Politburo Standing Committee between 2012 and 2017. ALSO READ | Daniil Medvedev says double triumph late last year at Paris Masters and ATP Finals laid platform for rise Concerns among the global tennis community have grown as Peng has not been seen since the post. The WTA said in a statement that it will seek a, "full, fair and transparent investigation into sexual assault allegations" against a former Chinese leader. "The recent events in China concerning a WTA player, Peng Shuai, are of deep concern," said WTA Tour chairman and CEO Steve Simon in a statement. "Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored. "Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness." Peng was the world number one doubles player in 2014, the first Chinese player to achieve a top ranking, after winning the doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. China, the focus of the Tour`s most aggressive expansion over the last decade, hosted nine tournaments in the 2019 season, including the elite WTA Finals, with a total $30.4 million prize money on offer. The season-ending WTA Finals, contested by the world`s top eight singles players and eight doubles teams, had a prize purse of $14 million in 2019 when it was played in Shenzhen for the first time. The Finals was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved this year to Guadalajara, Mexico. ALSO READ: ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev survives Hubert Hurkacz scare, Mateo Berrettini injured vs Alexander Zverev The WTA said that the tournament will return to Shenzhen from 2022 and the Chinese city will host every edition until 2030. "I think everybody fully understands what`s at stake here on many different fronts as we`re going through it," Simon told the New York Times on Sunday. "I think we`re certainly, from players to board to council, fully united that the only acceptable approach is that of doing what is right." Simon told the Times no one at the WTA Tour has talked directly to Peng but has received assurances from the Chinese Tennis Association that she is safe. "We`ve received confirmation from several sources, including the Chinese Tennis Association, that she is safe and not under any physical threat," Simon told the Times.

WTA calls for investigation into Peng Shuai's allegations after Chinese tennis star goes 'missing'

Peng Shuai claimed a former Vice Premier of China sexually assaulted her. Apparently, she has now gone missing. International tennis stars are raising concerns. Palki Sharma asks Where Is Peng Shuai?

Gravitas: Chinese tennis star "missing" after accusing former Vice Premier of Sexual Assault

Peng Shuai, a professional tennis star, publicly accused a former vice premier of China of sexual assault, igniting an online firestorm of attention to a #MeToo allegation that for the first time touched the pinnacles of Communist Party power.

Peng made the allegation in a post-Tuesday night on her verified account on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. In it, she described an assault that began an on-and-off consensual relationship with Zhang Gaoli, who from 2013-18 served on the party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the top ruling body in China.

The post was removed within minutes, but the allegations swirled through the country’s heavily controlled internet, fueled by the fame of the accuser and the accused. That kept the censors inside China’s Great Firewall scrambling.

Searches of her name and even the word “tennis” appeared to be blocked, reflecting the extraordinary sensitivity within China of discussing misconduct by party leaders.

“The impact of #MeToo has been accumulating for three years,” Lü Pin, an activist who founded the now-banned Chinese online forum Feminist Voices, said in a telephone interview from New Jersey, where she now lives. “When the first women began talking about their experiences three years ago, no one could have imagined that it would reach this high level.”

Peng’s accusations could not be corroborated. In her post, she acknowledged that she would be unable to produce evidence of her accusation, suggesting at one point that Zhang had expressed worries that she might record their encounters.

She could not be reached for comment. The State Council, China’s governing body, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The authorities have charged government officials with sexual misconduct before, often in conjunction with corruption investigations. Never before, though, has an accusation of sexual misconduct been leveled publicly against as senior a political leader as Zhang.

“These allegations are not shocking in substance but are shocking in the target,” Bill Bishop, the founder of Sinocism, a newsletter on Chinese affairs, wrote.

An economist by education, Zhang, now 75, rose through the ranks of the party and government. He served as governor of Shandong, the coastal province, and then as party secretary in Tianjin, the provincial-level port city on the Bohai Sea. As vice premier from 2013-18, he was one of seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, headed then, as now, by China’s leader, Xi Jinping.

“I know that for someone of your eminence, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, you’ve said that you’re not afraid,” Peng wrote in her post, “but even if it’s just me, like an egg hitting a rock, or a moth to the flame, courting self-destruction, I’ll tell the truth about you.”

Women in media, at universities and in the private sector in China have all come forward with accusations of sexual assault and harassment — only to face pushback in the courts and censorship online.

In China, many women say, there remains an ingrained patriarchal tradition of using positions in business or government to gain sexual favors from subordinates or other women. In 2016, the country’s top prosecuting agency listed the exchange of “power for sex recklessly” as one of six traits of senior officials accused of corruption.

The accuser in another high-profile harassment case, Zhou Xiaoxuan, posted a note expressing sympathy for Peng, illustrating how widely the accusation became known despite the censorship. “I hope she’s safe and sound,” she wrote.

Zhou, who in 2018 accused a prominent television anchor of sexual harassment four years earlier, emerged as a trailblazer of China’s fledgling #MeToo movement and also a victim of the social and legal challenges women who come forward face. In September, a court in Beijing ruled that she had “tendered insufficient evidence” to prove her case against the anchor, Zhu Jun, who has sued her for slander.

Zhang retired in 2018, when, according to Peng’s account, the two resumed a relationship that had begun when he served in Tianjin, which would have been between 2007-12. She said he had first assaulted her after inviting her to play tennis with him and his wife. “I never consented that afternoon, crying all the time,” she wrote, not specifying when exactly the assault occurred.

At the time she was soaring through a professional career that would propel her to a No. 1 ranking in doubles with the Women’s Tennis Association in 2014 and as high as 14th as a singles player.

With her doubles partner, Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan, she won the championship at Wimbledon in 2013 and again at the French Open in 2014. That year, playing singles, she reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open. She remains ranked 189th in singles and 248th in doubles, last playing at the Qatar Total Open in February 2020, according to the association.

She was one of the athletes who broke out of the country’s sports system, which mandates that most train under state coaches and give most of their earnings, even from endorsements, back to the state. She was one of the first to reach an agreement to allow her to train and travel by herself and keep a larger share of the earnings.

Her post continued to circulate in screen shots and other messages even after it was deleted, a testament to the resonance accusations like hers has in Chinese society.

“The censorship is not working,” Lü, the activist, said. She added that while it was important that people were discussing the issue, “changing policy is the most difficult part.”

Peng Shuai, a professional tennis star, publicly accused a former vice premier of China of sexual assault, igniting an online firestorm of attention to a #MeToo allegation that for the first time touched the pinnacles of Communist Party power.

Peng Shuai, a professional tennis star, publicly accused a former vice premier of China of sexual assault, igniting an online firestorm of attention to a #MeToo allegation that for the first time touched the pinnacles of Communist Party power. Peng made the allegation in a post-Tuesday night on her verified account on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. In it, she described an assault that began an on-and-off consensual relationship with Zhang Gaoli, who from 2013-18 served on the party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the top ruling body in China. The post was removed within minutes, but the allegations swirled through the country’s heavily controlled internet, fueled by the fame of the accuser and the accused. That kept the censors inside China’s Great Firewall scrambling. Searches of her name and even the word “tennis” appeared to be blocked, reflecting the extraordinary sensitivity within China of discussing misconduct by party leaders. “The impact of #MeToo has been accumulating for three years,” Lü Pin, an activist who founded the now-banned Chinese online forum Feminist Voices, said in a telephone interview from New Jersey, where she now lives. “When the first women began talking about their experiences three years ago, no one could have imagined that it would reach this high level.” Peng’s accusations could not be corroborated. In her post, she acknowledged that she would be unable to produce evidence of her accusation, suggesting at one point that Zhang had expressed worries that she might record their encounters. She could not be reached for comment. The State Council, China’s governing body, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The authorities have charged government officials with sexual misconduct before, often in conjunction with corruption investigations. Never before, though, has an accusation of sexual misconduct been leveled publicly against as senior a political leader as Zhang. “These allegations are not shocking in substance but are shocking in the target,” Bill Bishop, the founder of Sinocism, a newsletter on Chinese affairs, wrote. An economist by education, Zhang, now 75, rose through the ranks of the party and government. He served as governor of Shandong, the coastal province, and then as party secretary in Tianjin, the provincial-level port city on the Bohai Sea. As vice premier from 2013-18, he was one of seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, headed then, as now, by China’s leader, Xi Jinping. “I know that for someone of your eminence, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, you’ve said that you’re not afraid,” Peng wrote in her post, “but even if it’s just me, like an egg hitting a rock, or a moth to the flame, courting self-destruction, I’ll tell the truth about you.” Women in media, at universities and in the private sector in China have all come forward with accusations of sexual assault and harassment — only to face pushback in the courts and censorship online. In China, many women say, there remains an ingrained patriarchal tradition of using positions in business or government to gain sexual favors from subordinates or other women. In 2016, the country’s top prosecuting agency listed the exchange of “power for sex recklessly” as one of six traits of senior officials accused of corruption. The accuser in another high-profile harassment case, Zhou Xiaoxuan, posted a note expressing sympathy for Peng, illustrating how widely the accusation became known despite the censorship. “I hope she’s safe and sound,” she wrote. Zhou, who in 2018 accused a prominent television anchor of sexual harassment four years earlier, emerged as a trailblazer of China’s fledgling #MeToo movement and also a victim of the social and legal challenges women who come forward face. In September, a court in Beijing ruled that she had “tendered insufficient evidence” to prove her case against the anchor, Zhu Jun, who has sued her for slander. Zhang retired in 2018, when, according to Peng’s account, the two resumed a relationship that had begun when he served in Tianjin, which would have been between 2007-12. She said he had first assaulted her after inviting her to play tennis with him and his wife. “I never consented that afternoon, crying all the time,” she wrote, not specifying when exactly the assault occurred. At the time she was soaring through a professional career that would propel her to a No. 1 ranking in doubles with the Women’s Tennis Association in 2014 and as high as 14th as a singles player. With her doubles partner, Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan, she won the championship at Wimbledon in 2013 and again at the French Open in 2014. That year, playing singles, she reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open. She remains ranked 189th in singles and 248th in doubles, last playing at the Qatar Total Open in February 2020, according to the association. She was one of the athletes who broke out of the country’s sports system, which mandates that most train under state coaches and give most of their earnings, even from endorsements, back to the state. She was one of the first to reach an agreement to allow her to train and travel by herself and keep a larger share of the earnings. Her post continued to circulate in screen shots and other messages even after it was deleted, a testament to the resonance accusations like hers has in Chinese society. “The censorship is not working,” Lü, the activist, said. She added that while it was important that people were discussing the issue, “changing policy is the most difficult part.”

A Chinese tennis star accuses a former top leader of sexual assault

peng-shuai

Peng Shuai, News on Peng Shuai, stories on Peng Shuai, articles on Peng Shuai, Peng Shuai stories at Wion, Peng Shuai news, Peng Shuai latest news

peng shuai

'I'm in shock': Naomi Osaka concerned over missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai's whereabouts

Chinese star Peng Shuai's safety comes ahead of business, assures former WTA CEO Stacey Allaster

WTA calls for investigation into Peng Shuai's allegations after Chinese tennis star goes 'missing'

Gravitas: Chinese tennis star "missing" after accusing former Vice Premier of Sexual Assault

A Chinese tennis star accuses a former top leader of sexual assault